When love strives

CHAPTER FIVE THE BLUNT REFUSAL

Rachel blinked her eyes open to sterile white walls and the sound of beeping monitors in the background.

“Rachel Glanced to her side to see Micheal and gave another quick glance around the room.

“What happened? What am I doing here?” Her heart thundered against her chest, thinking of the worst as she stared at her husband and his mother with widened eyes.

Just then a man dressed in the doctor's uniform of a white coat, walked into the room.

“It's good that you're awake Mrs Collins, you have been unconscious for two hours.” The doctor said as he walked closer to her bed.

Rachel quickly sat up in the bed, and held her hand to her temple as she felt a pudding in her head.

“What happened doctor?”

“Easy there, you fell unconscious due to dehydration and low blood sugar, your blood pressure is also on high side so you need to eat healthy and rest for a few days.” He explained, giving her a kind smile.

“Okay. When can I leave?” She asked immediately.

The doctor let out a small chuckle at her urgency to leave.

“You can leave as soon as the treatment is done, in another hour or two. I will prescribe something for your blood pressure in the meanwhile and have a nurse attend to you soon.” He answered, motioning to the tube that was attached to her arm.

Rachel glanced at the transparent bag, and true enough the bag was already half empty.

“Thank you doctor.”

“It's my pleasure, good day.” He replied before turning on his heel and walking out of the room.

The room was filled with a tense silence afterwards.

Rachel let out a sigh glancing at the mother and son duo that was watching her with worried gazes.

“How did I get here?” She asked, staring at the dripping IV.

“The two glanced between each other for a few seconds before his mother spoke up.

“I will leave you to speak.” She sneakily answered before exiting the room.

“My mother called me, she said you passed out on your way out of the restaurant.” Micheal divulged.

She heard his footsteps getting closer until he was right beside her.

“Baby, I was so worried about you. I thought I was going to lose you. Please I cannot bear this anymore, the silent treatment and avoidance. Talk to me, let us resolve this.” His voice broke at the end.

Rachel shook her head, stubbornly keeping her gaze away from him. She knew that she would fall apart if she met his eyes.

“I already told you all that I had to say and there's nothing more to discuss, I want a divorce.” She retorted in a firm tone.

“Darling please, don't do this. Tell me what is wrong, we can fix this, I promise.” He tried again, grabbing her hands and rubbing softly.

Rachel snatched her hand out of his grip.

“Enough of this! You're beginning to sound like a broken record, just sign the papers and free me from this bondage. I can't take it anymore!” She exclaimed, finally directing her gaze to him.

Her heart broke at the sight of his disgruntled appearance, his eyes red rimmed with tears.

“Why won't you tell me what is wrong? I know that there's something bothering you, you cannot keep it to yourself forever.” His tone changed to a frustrated one.

“Just sign the f*****g papers and leave me alone! she exclaimed raising her voice.

Just then Kira rushed into the room and quickly assessed the scene before her, she had heard their shouts from outside on her way to the room.

“Micheal, I think it is best if you leave.” She stated in a serious tone.

“She is my wife!” He argued.

“But I don't want to be anymore, so just leave me alone!” Rachel shouted exasperatedly.

Micheal started between the two women for a while before he took a step back, nodding his head.

“Fine! But I am not signing those papers and I am not giving up on you so easily.” He muttered before storming out of the room with clenched fists.

“I can't do this anymore.” Rachel mumbled as soon as the door shut behind him.

“What?” Kira asked, walking closer to her friend.

“This! Life, everything! I just want to disappear, I'm tired.” She sobbed into her hands.

“No, don't talk like that, you are not going anywhere. Everything is going to work out in the end and I will be by your side through it all.” Kira said in a stern voice, pulling her into an embrace.

“And what if it doesn't get better?” She hiccuped, peering up at her friend.

Kira shook her head, her heart breaking every second for her friend.

“It will, just hold on a bit longer.” She reassured.

The two remained in that spot for a while, comforting each other until a nurse arrived with her prescription and removed the tubes, telling them that Rachel was allowed to leave.

Rachel went to the bathroom to change out of the hospital gown that she had woken up in even though she thought it to be unnecessary.

She returned to the room a few minutes later, placing the folded gown on the bed.

“Come on, let's get you home, Milo must be waiting for me to feed him, you know how greedy he gets for food.” Kira joked with a smile, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and guiding her out of the room.

Rachel replied with a chuckle that did not reach her eyes as she walked with her friend out of the hospital.

As much as she appreciated her friend's efforts to clear her up, she could not help but think about Micheal and how she had broken his heart. She was even more anxious by his promise, the last words uttered as he had left the room.

“I am not giving up on you!”